lugonian
IT ALL CAME TRUE (Warner Brothers, 1940), directed by Lewis Seiler, with its fairy tale sounding title, is a lighthearted comedy with some serious overtones. Taken from a story by Louis Bromfield, many of its elements appears to be in connection to a short story by either O. Henry or Damon Runyan, but it's not. Surprisingly featuring the studio's resident tough guy, Humphrey Bogart, it's also one of his most overlooked roles in his career. With this being another one of many gangster parts Bogey has done to perfection through much of his career, the story in itself is relatively different from anything he's ever done before mainly due to the musical angle attached to it.The story revolves around two matronly ladies managing a boarding house in the theater district of New York City, a building they've inherited from the late Miss Minnie. Among those out of work actors tenants are Minnie Flint (ZaSu Pitts), a housekeeper and avid mystery book reader; Rene Salmon (Grant Mitchell), a poet reciter; The Great Boldini (Felix Bressart), a magician; and Mr. Van Diver (Brandon Tynan). Norah Taylor (Jessie Busley), the owner, has a very positive outlook in life even though she owes back taxes on the place and is about to face foreclosure proceedings. As for her partner and cook, Maggie Ryan (Una O'Connor), her outlook in life isn't quite the same. Her daughter, Sarah Jane (Ann Sheridan), dreams of becoming an actress. Not having much luck in Atlantic City and the outside world, she returns home to start over. Norah's son, Tommy (Jeffrey Lynn), whom she hasn't seen in five years, is a struggling composer working for the "king of gamblers," "Chips" Maguire (Humphrey Bogart) at his Cairo Club. As the gambling casino gets raided by the police, Chips and Tommy sneak out the back way where Chips takes Tommy's gun to shoot down the informing Monks (Herbert Vigram) outside the alley. Because the murder weapon is licensed under Tommy's name, the young composer is forced to hide Chips from the police by taking him to his mother's boardinghouse. Introduced as his friend, Mr. Graselli, "Chips" lives a secluded life, having his meals sent to his room. The mysterious boarder arouses suspicion by Sarah Jane, who recognizes him as the man for whom she once worked, and the nosy Minnie Flint who finds Maguire's photo in a detective magazine. As Maguire's solitude gets the better of him, he arranges to bring some life and excitement to the place by turning it into a "Roaring 90s Club." As things start to come true for Mrs. Taylor, situations occur that could prove the opposite.As motion picture studios releasing some fifty movies annually, with writers coming up with material of some originality, and most important, to hold interest, IT ALL COMES TRUE at 97 minutes succeeds on both levels. At first glance, the film doesn't appear to be interesting at all. Only through the headlining stars of Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan (billed in that order in the opening credits, changed to Ann Sheridan, Jeffrey Lynn and Humphrey Bogart for its closing), that should attract some attention for anyone unfamiliar with this title. If the story, set mostly inside a boarding house, doesn't show great promise, then the latter portion featuring song numbers and Ann Sheridan's vocalizing should.With its combination of new and nostalgia era songs featured, the soundtrack includes: "Angels in Disguise" (by Kim Gannon, Stephen Weiss and Paul Mann); "Gaucho Serenade (by James Cavanaugh, John Redman and Nat Simon); "Daughter of Rosie O'Grady" "Memories" and "Pretty Baby," "Ain't We Got Fun; "Memories" (reprize); "Silver Threads Among the Gold,"Oh, You Beautiful Doll," "Angel in Disguise" (reprize); "Oh, Mr. Dooley," "Cuddle Up a Little Closer," "Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet," and "Irish Eyes Are Smiling." "Angels in Disguise" a promotional song heard during opening and closing credits, is no doubt the film's best tune, getting several reprises and underscoring along the way. While the first half of IT ALL CAME TRUE plays like a typical Warner Brothers programmer, the final portion takes off like a 20th Century-Fox musical (minus Technicolor) with Ann Sheridan and Jeffrey Lynn enacting their roles in similar fashion of Fox's own Alice Faye and John Payne had they been allowed to appear. Even the nostalgic songs are reminders of the Fox musicals, especially "Cuddle Up a Little Closer" most associated with Betty Grable. Jeffrey Lynn, a fine actor who never made the grade as top leading man, does his piano interludes almost in the same fashion as John Garfield enacted in FOUR DAUGHTERS (1938). His performance is well done, but hardly one to steal the attention away from either Sheridan or Bogart. While the overall story may not ring true to life, it all came true to Mrs. Bosley, which really matters to the content of the story anyway. Never quite a masterpiece, IT ALL CAME TRUE should be something to consider whenever presented on Turner Classic Movies. It's also available on DVD. (***1/2)
blanche-2
"It All Came True" is a delightful 1940 film starring Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Jeffrey Lynn, and Zasu Pitts. Sheridan and Lynn are the adult children of business partners in a boarding house (Jessie Busley and Una O'Connor). The women are about to lose the house because of back taxes. Lynn is Tommy, a composer, and Sheridan is Sarah Jane, a nightclub entertainer. Both move back home, but Lynn brings his boss, Chips Maguire (Bogart) with him, who is hiding from the police. He's blackmailing Tommy into hiding him because the gun that killed the victim is in Tommy's name.Chips can't leave his room, of course, and eventually grows bored with the entire arrangement. He recognizes the very attractive Sarah Jane as having been on the circuit, and decides to help her out by making the boarding house into a nightclub. He finances it and bails the women out of their financial troubles at the same time. Sarah Jane isn't interested in Chips - she's re-connected with Tommy - but naturally plays along. Tommy is uneasy; if Chips is caught, he'll tell the cops that Tommy committed the murder.The plot may sound serious, but the film is filled with music and a lightheartedness that's hard to describe. Ann Sheridan was sort of the working man's Rita Hayworth. She was at Warner's, which put her low, sultry voice, mane of red hair and other assets to good use in a variety of roles. She wasn't as beautiful as Hayworth or as exotic, but she was more versatile as an actress. Here she's at the top of her game, singing and dancing up a storm and looking sensational. She really carries the film. Lynn, whose career lost its momentum after World War II, was a nice-looking, boy next door type of leading man, and does an able job here. Bogart is a riot; the man could do anything. Though his character is ruthless and dangerous, he comes off as extremely likable. The striking Zasu Pitts is wonderful as a boarder who sees men following her everywhere and can't handle her liquor. At all.There's a charming sentiment about this film - it'll leave you smiling.
whpratt1
This film had a cast of Hollywood's greatest actors of all time. Humphrey Bogart was an actor who could do comedy, romance("Sabrina" with William Holden) drama,("The Caine Mutiny,1954) Bogart was under contract and he had to make pictures which were sometimes a B movie, like this one was. Hollywood did not pay actors hugh salaries like the actors today, and every picture they made was a step up the ladder of success in hard times after WWII. Ann Sheridan(Sarah Jane Ryan) was often paired with Bogart and it was a great 1940 film in those days and they both made this film an all time classic. Zasu Pitts(Miss Flint) and John Litel gave great supporting roles. Bogart was a gangster in this picture who had a change of heart in the end and DID HIS THING! Any film that Humphrey Bogart appeared in is a CLASSIC forever and ever!
